Nick Saban, Alabama Prove Against Ole Miss That Not All Wins are Pretty

Listening to the Alabama faithful following this week's win against Ole Miss has convinced me that Alabama fans are indeed looking too far down the road.

They were actually upset that they had just won a game against a team that many thought could be the SEC West champions.

They were upset because they didn't do it in a pleasing enough fashion.

Alabama's offense looked mortal, scoring only one touchdown. They blew five scoring opportunities and had to settle for field goals.

Were the Alabama fans seeing the same game I was?

I guess it all depends on whether you judge a team by their offense or defense.

I saw an Alabama defense completely befuddle a quarterback who started the season with as much Heisman hype as anyone.

I saw a Tide defense hold a great quarterback, a great running back and a coach with a knack for getting points on the board to one first down in the first half and just over 200 yards total offense for the game.

I saw Ole Miss get inside the red zone only once the entire day.

I saw Alabama create five turnovers.

I saw a defense hold Dexter McCluster to just 15 yards on six carries and Brandon Bolden to 11 yards in 10 carries.

The only running from the Rebels I saw all game was Jevan Snead running for his life most of the game.

This was about as good a defensive game as I have seen the Tide play this year, yet all you hear about is how disappointed the fans were about the offense.

I've spent more time with the players and coaches this year than any other year. While I won't claim to know the workings of Nick Saban's mind, I can tell you he could have unleashed the offense and scored more points if he had wanted.

Let me tell you three truths I do know about Nick Saban.

First, wins are more important than style points.

Second, if he can use one game to prepare for another, he will, and he doesn't care if the fans think it's ugly.

Third, Nick has no fear that the passing game is in any danger of not being productive.

The game was over by half time and Nick Saban knew it. This was a chance to work on some things he wanted to work on. It was Saban's plan to use the second half to work on stamina for the offensive line against a very good opposing defensive line.

The offensive line got a great workout against a very fine opponent. They'll need the work this week when they play South Carolina, owners of perhaps the toughest defense they've faced so far this year.

Saban wants this line in shape for the tougher tests that are coming soon, as the Tide approaches what has historically been called "Amen Corner."

Saban told me earlier this year that he expects South Carolina to provide them with the toughest defensive game they'll face till perhaps Tennessee and Florida.

So while the win wasn't pleasing to most Alabama fans, they should keep in mind they more than tripled the Las Vegas point spread of the game and they beat the best SEC team they've faced so far by 19 points.

Alabama has already played two of the three best quarterbacks in the SEC this season according to all the experts. The Tide won those games by a combined score of 57-10.

Nick Saban will take that kind of ugly any day.